Spice Xing: A Day of Crossings

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My Mother’s Day this year begins in Bloomington, Indiana as my daughter’s graduation weekend draws to a close. It is surreal that she is finished with college. How can it be over so quickly? I can’t find the words to comfort her as she mourns the loss of the friends, the campus, and the experiences that she is leaving behind. At the same time there is an excitement about the travels, the job, and relocation to the DC area that lie ahead.

Enough about that. The important thing to know is that the circumstances of the day present some challenges in terms of dining. My husband and I are flying home, while my son accompanies his sister on the 10 1/2 hour drive home. I honestly haven’t thought about dinner. But our plane lands at 4:30 pm while the kids won’t be home for hours. It suddenly dawns on me that we can still eat out. I’m starting to feel better on a Mother’s Day that’s filled with mixed emotions.

It takes me no time at all to decide on Indian food, which then leads me to think about Spice Xing. I’ve been a few times and I like both the food and atmosphere. The location is close enough to home and this is a factor as well. Plus, Spice Xing has garnered some great reviews, including inclusion in Washingtonian‘s 100 Very Best Restaurants 2011.

Our meal begins with baby dosa, mini crisp pancakes of rice with potatoes and onion. We are surprised when we are served a pancake with the potatoes on the side. Sauce is served separately in a bowl. The server tells us that they used to put the potatoes inside the dosa, but customers didn’t like it that way. We find this odd. The flavor is very good, but when you put the potatoes on the pancake, add the sauce, and roll it up like a tortilla there is too much liquid and it is quite messy to eat. I still think the potatoes should go inside the dosa.

We also order an onion kulcha, which is a requisite whenever we have an Indian meal. It is buttery and delicious. Spice Xing passes the kulcha test.

My main course is Nariyal Shrimp Curry, a South Indian curry with coconut milk and green chillies. It comes with tasty green beans and a cool fresh slaw. The portion is plentiful and it has the right amount of sizzle, although the shrimp is just a touch overcooked. The flavor of the sauce is enough to make up for the texture of the shrimp.

My husband has Salmon Tandoori. The salmon is well prepared, although he remarks that it is does not have particularly strong flavors.. He has no complaints but it is nothing special.

Spice Xing is just what I need for this particular occasion… good food, soothing atmosphere, fast and competent service, convenient location. I smile when it dawns on me that the name of the restaurant includes the word crossing. How fitting on a day that now marks the crossing of both of my children from academics to adulthood.

Spice Xing 100-B, Gibbs Street, Rockville MD

My rating (on a 1-5 scale): 3.6
Zagat rating: 20

Washingtonian‘s 100 Very Best Restaurants 2011
Washingtonian review